B2 noun /ˌstɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

stimulation

Meaning

The action of arousing interest, enthusiasm, or excitement.

Example

Stimulation reduces stress and aids relaxation.

La stimulation réduit le stress et aide à la relaxation.

C1 noun /ˈsɒnɪt/

sonnet

Meaning

A poem of 14 lines using formal rhyme schemes, often about love.

Example

Shakespeare wrote many famous sonnets about love and beauty.

Shakespeare a écrit de nombreux sonnets célèbres sur l'amour et la beauté.

B2 noun /ˈsɪmpəθi/

Sympathy

sympathie

Meaning

feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

Example

She expressed her sympathy for the victims of the accident.

Elle a exprimé sa sympathie pour les victimes de l'accident.

B2 adjective /ˈsændi/

Sandy

sableux; sablonneux

Meaning

covered with sand; containing sand; having the texture of sand

Example

The sandy beach stretched for miles along the coast.

La plage sableuse s'étendait sur des kilomètres le long de la côte.

C1 noun /ˌsæl.ɪ.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

salinization

augmentation de la salinité

Meaning

The process of increasing salt content in soil.

Example

Excessive irrigation can cause salinization of farmland.

L'irrigation excessive peut entraîner une augmentation de la salinité des terres agricoles.

C2 noun ˈsaɪəns ˈdezət

science-desert

désert scientifique

Meaning

A region or area lacking in scientific development, research facilities, or educational institutions.

Example

J.C. Bose thrived in a science-desert.

J.C. Bose a prospéré dans un désert scientifique.

C1 adjective /ˈstæɡ.nənt/

Stagnant

stagnant; immobile; sans développement

Meaning

not moving or flowing; showing no activity or development

Example

The stagnant water in the pond was covered with algae.

L'eau stagnante dans l'étang était recouverte d'algues.

B1 noun /ˈsæl.ər.i/

Salary

salaire

Meaning

a fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly basis

Example

She receives a good salary for her work as a teacher.

Elle reçoit un bon salaire pour son travail en tant qu'enseignante.

A2 noun /ʃɪp/

Ship

navire

Meaning

a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and seas

Example

The cargo ship departed from the port at dawn.

Le navire de fret a quitté le port à l'aube.

C1 adjective /ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

squeamish

facilement rendu malade, évanoui ou dégoûté

Meaning

easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted

Example

She felt squeamish at the sight of blood.

Elle se sentit mal à l'aise en voyant du sang.

B2 noun /ˈsleɪvəri/

slavery

esclavage

Meaning

the system or state of being owned and forced to work for someone else

Example

Slavery was abolished in most countries in the 19th century.

L'esclavage a été aboli dans la plupart des pays au XIXe siècle.

B1 adjective /ʃeɪpt/

shaped

formé

Meaning

having a particular form or appearance

Example

The sculpture was shaped like a human figure.

La sculpture était formée comme une figure humaine.

B2 adjective /ˈsoʊpi/

Soapy

couvert de savon; mousseux

Meaning

covered with soap; having the characteristics of soap; foamy

Example

The dishes were still soapy after washing.

Les assiettes étaient toujours savonneuses après le lavage.

B2 adjective /ˈstʌf.i/

Stuffy

manque d'air frais; mal ventilé; attitude formelle et conservatrice

Meaning

lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated; formal and conservative in attitude

Example

The room was stuffy and needed fresh air.

La pièce était étouffante et avait besoin d'air frais.

C1 verb /ˈstaɪfəld/

stifled

étouffer

Meaning

to suppress, hold back, or prevent something from happening

Example

He stifled a laugh during the serious meeting.

Il a étouffé un rire pendant la réunion sérieuse.

B2 adjective /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/

subsequent

subséquent

Meaning

Coming after something in time; following in time or order.

Example

Subsequent events clarified the outcomes.

Les événements subséquents ont clarifié les résultats.

C1 adjective/verb /ˈsiːzənd/

seasoned

expérimenté / assaisonné

Meaning

Experienced in a particular activity; also, flavored with spices.

Example

She is a seasoned teacher with over 20 years of experience.

Elle est une enseignante expérimentée avec plus de 20 ans d'expérience.

B2 noun /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər/

Skyscraper

gratte-ciel

Meaning

a very tall building of many stories

Example

The new skyscraper dominates the city's skyline.

Le nouveau gratte-ciel domine la ligne d'horizon de la ville.

B2 verb /ʃrɪŋk/

shrink

rétrécir

Meaning

to become smaller in size; to draw back in fear

Example

The sweater shrank after washing in hot water.

Le pull s'est rétréci après avoir été lavé dans de l'eau chaude.

C1 noun /suˈpriː.mə.si/

Supremacy

suprématie; autorité ou pouvoir suprême

Meaning

the state of being supreme; highest authority or power

Example

The country established naval supremacy in the region.

Le pays a établi la suprématie navale dans la région.

B1 noun sɪˈlek.ʃən

selection

sélection

Meaning

The action or fact of carefully choosing someone or something as being the best or most suitable.

Example

The selection process is based on merit.

Le processus de sélection est basé sur le mérite.

C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

dentelé

Meaning

Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.

Example

The bread knife had a serrated blade.

Le couteau à pain avait une lame dentelée.

C1 verb /sɪndʒ/

singe

brûler légèrement

Meaning

To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.

Example

The fire singed his eyebrows.

Le feu a brûlé ses sourcils.

B2 adverb /ˈʃɑːrpli/

sharply

brusquement

Meaning

suddenly and strongly; in a cutting or intense way

Example

Prices rose sharply after the announcement.

Les prix ont augmenté brusquement après l'annonce.

C1 noun /ˈstjuːpər/

stupor

stupéfaction

Meaning

a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility

Example

He remained in a stupor after hearing the shocking news.

Il est resté dans un état de stupéfaction après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.

C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

synode

Meaning

An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.

Example

The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.

Le synode s'est réuni pour discuter des réformes dans l'église.

C1 noun /ˈsæf.rən/

Saffron

safran

Meaning

a deep yellow-orange color; an expensive spice derived from crocus flowers

Example

The saffron fabric looked beautiful in the sunlight.

Le tissu de safran avait l'air magnifique au soleil.

C2 adjective /ˈsɛpərəbəl/

separable

séparable

Meaning

Capable of being separated or divided.

Example

The two issues are separable and should be discussed independently.

Les deux problèmes sont séparables et doivent être discutés indépendamment.

B2 noun /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

suffering

souffrance

Meaning

the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship

Example

They tried to relieve his suffering with medicine.

Ils ont essayé de soulager sa souffrance avec des médicaments.

B2 verb /ˈspɛsɪfaɪ/

specify

spécifier

Meaning

to state or describe something clearly and exactly

Example

Please specify the time and place of the meeting.

Veuillez spécifier l'heure et le lieu de la réunion.

C1 verb /ˈʃʌdər/

shudder

frissonner

Meaning

to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion

Example

She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest.

Elle frissonna à l'idée de marcher seule dans la forêt sombre.

A2 noun /siːd/

seed

graine

Meaning

the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow

Example

I planted a seed in the garden.

J'ai planté une graine dans le jardin.

C1 noun /ˈspɪnstər/

spinster

femme célibataire

Meaning

An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry

Example

The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children.

Le roman présentait une femme célibataire au grand cœur qui s'occupait des enfants du village.

A1 noun /sɪks/

six

Meaning

the number 6

Example

There are six apples on the table.

Il y a six pommes sur la table.

C1 verb /ˈʃækəl/

shackle

chaîner

Meaning

to chain or restrain; to restrict someone’s actions or freedom

Example

Outdated regulations shackle small businesses and slow innovation.

Les anciennes régulations enchaînent les petites entreprises et ralentissent l'innovation.

C1 noun /səˈlɛmnɪti/

solemnity

solennité

Meaning

the state or quality of being serious and dignified

Example

The ceremony was conducted with great solemnity.

La cérémonie a été menée avec grande solennité.

B1 noun /saɪt/

site

endroit

Meaning

a location or place, often used for a specific purpose, such as a construction site or a website

Example

The construction site is ready for the next phase of the project.

Le site de construction est prêt pour la prochaine phase du projet.

B2 noun /stɔːrk/

Stork

Cigogne

Meaning

large wading bird with long legs and a long neck

Example

The stork built its nest on top of the tall chimney.

La cigogne a construit son nid sur le sommet de la cheminée haute.

A2 noun ˈsaɪəns

science

Meaning

The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.

Example

Science continues to explore the unknown.

La science continue d'explorer l'inconnu.

B2 noun /sɜːˈveɪ.ləns/

surveillance

Meaning

Close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal; continuous watching of a place, person, or situation.

Example

Government agencies conduct surveillance on cyber threats.

Les agences gouvernementales effectuent une surveillance des menaces informatiques.

B2 adjective /ˈʃeɪm.fəl/

Shameful

honteux; disgracieux; embarrassant

Meaning

causing shame; disgraceful; embarrassing

Example

His shameful behavior embarrassed the entire family.

Son comportement honteux a embarrassé toute la famille.

A2 verb /ʃʌt/

shut

fermer

Meaning

to close something, especially a door or window

Example

Please shut the door before you leave.

Veuillez fermer la porte avant de partir.

A2 noun /smɔːl boʊl/

Small bowl

petit bol

Meaning

a round, shallow container of small size used for serving food or liquids

Example

She served the soup in a small bowl.

Elle a servi la soupe dans un petit bol.

C1 noun /ˈsmætərɪŋ/

smattering

connaissance superficielle

Meaning

A small amount or superficial knowledge of something.

Example

He has a smattering of Spanish.

Il a une connaissance superficielle de l'espagnol.

C1 noun /ˌsɛlf əˌfɜːˈmeɪʃən/

self-affirmation

auto-affirmation

Meaning

The practice of affirming one's own worthiness and value as an individual.

Example

Daily self-affirmation can boost your confidence.

L'auto-affirmation quotidienne peut augmenter votre confiance.

C2 noun /sɪlf/

sylph

sylphide

Meaning

A mythical spirit of the air; also refers to a slender, graceful woman.

Example

She moved across the stage like a sylph, light and graceful.

Elle se déplaçait sur la scène comme une sylphide, légère et gracieuse.

C1 verb /skʌlpt/

sculpt

bonheur

Meaning

to create or shape something by carving or molding

Example

The artist sculpted a beautiful statue from marble.

Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.

B2 noun /ˈsʌm.ɪt/

summit

sommet

Meaning

A high-level meeting between leaders, especially of governments; a conference.

Example

The summit addressed pressing global issues.

Le sommet a abordé des questions mondiales pressantes.

B1 noun /səˈdʒes.tʃən/

Suggestion

suggestion; conseil

Meaning

an idea or plan put forward for consideration; advice or recommendation

Example

Do you have any suggestions for improving our team's productivity?

Avez-vous des suggestions pour améliorer la productivité de notre équipe?

C1 adjective /ˈspeɪʃəl/

spatial

Meaning

relating to space or the position, area, and size of things

Example

The scientist studied the spatial arrangement of stars.

Le scientifique a étudié l'agencement spatial des étoiles.

B2 noun /sɛnt/

scent

parfum

Meaning

a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one

Example

The scent of roses filled the garden.

Le parfum des roses remplissait le jardin.

B2 noun /ˈsɛtlər/

settler

colons

Meaning

a person who settles in a new area or land

Example

The settlers arrived in the new town and started building homes.

Les colons sont arrivés dans la nouvelle ville et ont commencé à construire des maisons.

C2 noun /skriːd/

screed

écrit long et ennuyeux

Meaning

a long, tedious piece of writing or speech; also a layer of material like cement spread on a surface

Example

He delivered a long screed against corruption.

Il a livré un long discours contre la corruption.

C1 adjective /ˈseɪ.vər.i/

savory

savoureux (salé ou épicé)

Meaning

Having a pleasant salty or spicy taste; morally acceptable.

Example

The restaurant serves a variety of savory dishes.

Le restaurant sert une variété de plats savoureux.

C2 verb /sʌbˈtɛnd/

subtend

sous-tendre

Meaning

To extend across or form an angle at a particular point, often used in geometry.

Example

The arc subtends a 60-degree angle at the center of the circle.

L'arc sous-tend un angle de 60 degrés au centre du cercle.

A2 noun /ˈsæd.nəs/

Sadness

tristesse, chagrin, douleur

Meaning

feeling of sorrow, unhappiness, or grief

Example

Her sadness was evident after hearing the bad news.

Sa tristesse était évidente après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.

A2 noun steɪt

state

état

Meaning

A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

Example

The state declared a new language policy.

L'état a déclaré une nouvelle politique linguistique.

A2 noun /sneɪk/

Snake

serpent

Meaning

a long, legless reptile that moves by sliding along the ground

Example

The snake slithered through the grass quietly.

Le serpent glissait silencieusement à travers l'herbe.

C1 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance

Meaning

A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.

Example

They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.

Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.

C1 noun, verb /səˈpiːnə/

subpoena

citation judiciaire

Meaning

a legal document ordering someone to attend court; to summon someone with such a document

Example

The witness received a subpoena to appear in court next week.

Le témoin a reçu une citation judiciaire pour comparaître au tribunal la semaine prochaine.

C1 verb/noun /skɒtʃ/

scotch

mettre fin à / whisky écossais

Meaning

to put an end to something; also a type of whisky

Example

The report scotched the rumors of a merger.

Le rapport a mis fin aux rumeurs de fusion.

B2 noun /ˌsɪmjuˈleɪʃən/

simulation

Meaning

the imitation of a situation or process

Example

The simulation helped the students understand the complex theory.

La simulation a aidé les étudiants à comprendre la théorie complexe.

C1 noun /ˈsækrɪlɪdʒ/

sacrilege

sacrilège

Meaning

Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.

Example

Stealing from the temple was considered an act of sacrilege.

Voler dans le temple était considéré comme un acte de sacrilège.

B2 noun /ˌspeʃiˈælɪti/

Speciality

spécialité

Meaning

a particular area of activity or interest that someone focuses on; expertise in a specific field

Example

His speciality is Italian cuisine.

Sa spécialité est la cuisine italienne.

C2 adjective /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪtɪd/

syncopated

syncopé

Meaning

Characterized by displaced beats or rhythms, especially in music.

Example

The jazz piece had a syncopated rhythm that energized the crowd.

Le morceau de jazz avait un rythme syncopé qui a énergisé la foule.

C1 adjective ˈsɛd(ə)ntəri

sedentary

sédentaire

Meaning

Characterized by much sitting and little physical activity.

Example

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to numerous health problems.

Un mode de vie sédentaire peut entraîner de nombreux problèmes de santé.

C1 verb /smɛlt/

smelt

fondre

Meaning

to extract metal from its ore by heating and melting

Example

The workers smelt iron from its ore in the factory.

Les travailleurs fondent du fer de son minerai dans l'usine.

B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/

superficial

superficiel

Meaning

Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.

Example

His understanding of the subject was rather superficial.

Sa compréhension du sujet était plutôt superficielle.

A1 noun /skuːl/

school

école

Meaning

An institution for educating children; also a group of people sharing the same ideas or discipline.

Example

The children walked to school together.

Les enfants sont allés à l'école ensemble.

B2 adjective /ˈskɪni/

Skinny

mince; maigre; squelettique

Meaning

very thin; having little flesh or fat on the body

Example

The skinny cat looked like it hadn't eaten for days.

Le chat maigre avait l'air de ne pas avoir mangé depuis des jours.

C2 verb /ˈsʌplɪˌkeɪt/

supplicate

supplier

Meaning

To ask for something earnestly or humbly, often in a religious context.

Example

The villagers supplicated the gods for rain during the drought.

Les villageois supplièrent les dieux pour la pluie pendant la sécheresse.

B2 verb, noun /sniːz/

sneeze

éternuer

Meaning

to expel air involuntarily from the nose and mouth due to irritation; the act of sneezing

Example

I had to sneeze during the meeting.

J'ai dû éternuer pendant la réunion.

A1 noun /ˈsændwɪtʃ/

sandwich

Meaning

two pieces of bread with food such as meat, cheese, or salad between them

Example

I made a chicken sandwich for lunch.

J'ai fait un sandwich au poulet pour le déjeuner.

A1 noun /suːp/

Soup

soupe

Meaning

a liquid food made by boiling meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in water

Example

I had a bowl of chicken soup for lunch.

J'ai mangé un bol de soupe au poulet pour le déjeuner.

A2 adjective /skaɪ bluː/

Sky-blue

bleu ciel

Meaning

a bright blue color like that of a clear sky

Example

Her sky-blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

Ses yeux bleu ciel brillaient sous la lumière du soleil.

A2 noun /ˈʃaʊər/

shower

douche

Meaning

a brief fall of rain or snow or a device for taking a bath or washing oneself

Example

After the workout, I took a quick shower to refresh myself.

Après l'entraînement, j'ai pris une douche rapide pour me rafraîchir.

C1 noun /ˌspɒn.təˈneɪ.ɪ.ti/

spontaneity

spontanéité

Meaning

The quality of being spontaneous; natural and unplanned behavior.

Example

His spontaneity makes him a great conversationalist.

Sa spontanéité fait de lui un excellent conversationnel.

C2 adjective /ˌsæsərˈdoʊtl/

sacerdotal

Meaning

Relating to priests or the priesthood.

Example

The ritual had a distinctly sacerdotal character.

Le rituel avait un caractère distinctement sacerdotal.

C2 noun /ˈseɪnjər/

seignior

seigneur féodal

Meaning

A feudal lord; a man of authority in medieval Europe.

Example

The seignior demanded taxes from the peasants.

Le seigneur féodal a exigé des taxes des paysans.

C1 noun /səˈlɪləkwi/

soliloquy

soliloque

Meaning

a speech in which a character talks to themselves, often used in drama to reveal inner thoughts

Example

Hamlet's soliloquy is one of the most famous passages in Shakespearean drama.

Le soliloque d'Hamlet est l'un des passages les plus célèbres du drame shakespearien.

B2 noun /spaɪt/

spite

rancune

Meaning

a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone

Example

She refused the gift out of spite.

Elle a refusé le cadeau par rancune.

B2 noun/verb /skræp/

scrap

morceau / jeter

Meaning

A small piece of something; to discard or get rid of something.

Example

He used a scrap of paper to jot down the number.

Il a utilisé un morceau de papier pour écrire le numéro.

C1 noun ˈsæŋktɪti

sanctity

sainteté

Meaning

The state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly; ultimate importance.

Example

The sanctity of life should never be compromised.

La sainteté de la vie ne doit jamais être compromise.

B2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

sergeant

sergent

Meaning

A rank of non-commissioned officer in the armed forces or police.

Example

The sergeant gave orders to the soldiers before the mission.

Le sergent a donné des ordres aux soldats avant la mission.

B1 noun /ˈseɪ.ɪŋ/

Saying

proverbe

Meaning

a well-known phrase that expresses something true about life; a proverb

Example

There's an old saying that practice makes perfect.

Il y a un vieux proverbe qui dit que c'est la pratique qui rend parfait.

A2 noun /ˈsuːt.keɪs/

suitcase

valise

Meaning

A portable rectangular container for carrying clothes and personal items when traveling

Example

She packed her clothes into a suitcase for the trip.

Elle a mis ses vêtements dans une valise pour le voyage.

C2 adjective /ˈsɪnjuːi/

sinewy

musclé et fort

Meaning

Lean and muscular; strong and tough.

Example

The athlete had a sinewy build that showed his strength.

L'athlète avait une silhouette musclée qui montrait sa force.

C1 verb /ˈswɪndl/

swindle

escroquer

Meaning

to cheat someone out of money or possessions by deceit

Example

The con artist tried to swindle the old man out of his savings.

L'artiste de la tromperie a tenté d'escroquer le vieil homme de ses économies.

C1 noun səˈsteɪnəbəl ænd kəˈlæbərətɪv əˈproʊtʃ

sustainable and collaborative approach

approche durable et collaborative

Meaning

A method of working together that can be maintained over time without depleting resources or causing harm.

Example

A sustainable and collaborative approach is crucial for solving environmental problems.

Une approche durable et collaborative est cruciale pour résoudre les problèmes environnementaux.

B1 verb /sərˈvaɪv/

survive

survivre

Meaning

To continue to live or exist after a difficult event or situation.

Example

He managed to survive the storm.

Il a réussi à survivre à la tempête.

A2 modal verb /ʃæl/

shall

devoir

Meaning

used to express the future or indicate an intention or determination

Example

I shall return before sunset.

Je reviendrai avant le coucher du soleil.

B2 noun /stjuːˈpɪdəti/

stupidity

stupidité

Meaning

lack of intelligence or common sense

Example

His stupidity caused a lot of problems for the team.

Sa stupidité a causé beaucoup de problèmes à l'équipe.

C2 noun/verb /ˈsoʊdʒɜrn/

sojourn

séjour temporaire

Meaning

A temporary stay at a place; to stay temporarily

Example

She enjoyed a brief sojourn in Paris during the summer.

Elle a apprécié un bref séjour à Paris pendant l'été.

C2 noun /ˌself əˈbeɪs.mənt/

self-abasement

auto-humiliation

Meaning

The act of belittling or humiliating oneself.

Example

His constant self-abasement made others uncomfortable.

Son auto-humiliation constante mettait les autres mal à l'aise.

B1 noun /ʃɔːr/

Shore

rivage; côte; plage

Meaning

the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other body of water

Example

We walked along the shore collecting seashells.

Nous avons marché le long du rivage en ramassant des coquillages.

B2 noun ˌsɛlf.kənˈtrəʊl

self-control

autocontrôle

Meaning

The ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward, or avoid some punishment, typically in the longer term.

Example

Self-control is important for maintaining a balanced life.

Le contrôle de soi est important pour maintenir une vie équilibrée.

C2 noun /ˈsweɪʒən/

suasion

persuasion

Meaning

the act of persuading or influencing someone

Example

The leader used gentle suasion to win support for the plan.

Le leader a utilisé une suasion douce pour obtenir le soutien pour le plan.

A2 adjective /sər'praɪzd/

Surprised

surpris

Meaning

feeling or showing surprise; astonished

Example

I was surprised to see my old friend at the market.

J'ai été surpris de voir mon vieil ami au marché.

C1 noun /stɑːr ˈæn.ɪs/

Star Anise

anis étoilé

Meaning

star-shaped spice pod with a licorice-like flavor used in cooking

Example

She added star anise to the soup for aromatic flavor.

Elle a ajouté de l'anis étoilé à la soupe pour un goût aromatique.

C1 noun /ˈsɒl.ɪs/

Solace

réconfort

Meaning

comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness

Example

She found solace in music after her loss.

Elle a trouvé du réconfort dans la musique après sa perte.

C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

séduction; tentation

Meaning

the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong

Example

He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.

Il est tombé victime de la séduction de l'argent facile.

B1 verb /straɪk/

Strike

frapper

Meaning

to hit forcefully; to stop work as a form of protest

Example

Lightning strikes the tall building during the storm.

L'éclair frappe le grand bâtiment pendant la tempête.

C2 noun /ˌʃæŋɡriˈlɑː/

shangri-la

paradis imaginaire

Meaning

a remote, beautiful, imaginary place where life is perfect and peaceful

Example

They described the island as a modern-day Shangri-La.

Ils ont décrit l'île comme un Shangri-La moderne.

C2 noun /ˈsɛkstənt/

sextant

Meaning

a navigational instrument with a graduated arc of 60°, used to measure the angle between a celestial object and the horizon

Example

Using a sextant, the navigator fixed the ship’s position at noon.

En utilisant un sextant, le navigateur a fixé la position du navire à midi.

A2 adverb /ˈsʌd.ən.li/

Suddenly

soudainement

Meaning

quickly and without warning; unexpectedly

Example

The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.

La voiture s'est arrêtée soudainement au milieu de la route.

B2 noun /ˈsɜːdʒən/

surgeon

chirurgien

Meaning

a doctor who performs medical operations

Example

The surgeon performed a complex heart operation.

Le chirurgien a effectué une opération cardiaque complexe.

C1 adjective /sɪˈmɛtrɪkəl/

symmetrical

symétrique

Meaning

having parts on either side that match or are the same in shape, size, or arrangement

Example

The artist designed a symmetrical pattern on the floor.

L'artiste a conçu un motif symétrique sur le sol.

A1 verb /smaɪl/

smile

sourire

Meaning

to express happiness or friendliness by turning the corners of the mouth upwards

Example

She smiled when she saw the gift.

Elle a souri lorsqu'elle a vu le cadeau.

C1 adjective /ˈsnɒbɪʃ/

snobbish

prétentieux

Meaning

having or showing the attitude of people who think they are better than others

Example

She seemed snobbish because she avoided talking to the waiters.

Elle semblait prétentieuse parce qu'elle a évité de parler aux serveurs.

B2 verb /səbˈskraɪb/

subscribe

Meaning

to pay to receive a service regularly; to agree with or support something

Example

I subscribe to several online magazines.

Je m'abonne à plusieurs magazines en ligne.

C2 adjective /səˈmætɪk/

somatic

somatique

Meaning

Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.

Example

Yoga can improve both somatic and mental health.

Le yoga peut améliorer à la fois la santé somatique et mentale.

B2 adjective /səkˈsɛsɪv/

Successive

successif; consécutif

Meaning

following one after the other in order; consecutive

Example

The team won three successive matches.

L'équipe a gagné trois matchs consécutifs.

A2 adjective /ˈselfɪʃ/

Selfish

égoïste

Meaning

caring only about oneself rather than others

Example

He was too selfish to share his food with others.

Il était trop égoïste pour partager sa nourriture avec les autres.

C1 verb /stoʊk/

stoke

attiser le feu; encourager ou augmenter un sentiment ou une activité forte

Meaning

To add fuel to a fire; to encourage or increase a strong feeling or activity.

Example

The politician’s speech stoked anger among the crowd.

Le discours du politicien a enflammé la colère parmi la foule.

C1 adjective /ˈsɛnʃuəs/

sensuous

sensuel

Meaning

Relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect; pleasing to the senses.

Example

The garden was filled with sensuous colors and fragrances.

Le jardin était rempli de couleurs et de fragrances sensuelles.

C1 verb /ˈstriːm.laɪn/

streamline

rationaliser ou augmenter l'efficacité

Meaning

To make a process simpler and more efficient.

Example

The company aims to streamline production to reduce costs.

L'entreprise vise à simplifier la production pour réduire les coûts.

C1 noun /sɪlk klɔːθ/

Silk cloth

tissu en soie

Meaning

fabric made from natural fibers produced by silkworms

Example

The bride wore a beautiful dress made of silk cloth.

La mariée portait une belle robe faite de tissu en soie.

C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

sophistique

Meaning

the use of clever but false arguments, often to deceive

Example

The politician's speech was full of sophistry.

Le discours du politicien était plein de sophistique.

B2 noun /ˈsikwəl/

Sequel

suite

Meaning

a published, broadcast, or recorded work that continues the story or develops the theme of an earlier one; something that takes place after or as a result of an earlier event

Example

The movie sequel was even more successful than the original.

La suite du film a été encore plus réussie que l'original.

A2 noun /sænd/

sand

bonheur

Meaning

Small loose grains of crushed rock, found on beaches and deserts.

Example

Children built castles out of sand on the beach.

Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.

A2 noun /ˈsiːkrət/

secret

Meaning

something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others

Example

He told me a secret about his childhood.

Il m'a confié un secret sur son enfance.